Schedule for Broadway-Harrison signals announced

The issue of “when” on the implementation of traffic signals at Broadway and Harrison was addressed when the Great Bend City Council met Monday night, as was the issue of “where.”City Engineer Robert Winiecke addressed the three intersections that have been studied by local and state officials recently.Only one of the three warranted the changes the city had requested, and that was not Broadway and Harrison.Winiecke explained that the traffic patterns and accidents at that intersection did not, in Kansas Department of Transportation standards, meet the requirements for traffic signals.The intersection did meet the stipulations for a four-way stop sign arrangement, or for a round-about, and the state would assist in funding for a round-about.Those alternatives had already been dismissed by the city and the council had agreed that it would use city funds to pay for the traffic signals if KDOT was not going to help.Now Winiecke explained his staff will get started next week with preliminary surveying work and they will utilize earlier plans for this site.That work should be done and the first of two public meetings can be scheduled for Dec. 20.A second public meeting would be set for Jan. 17 under the schedule that Winiecke presented to the council Monday night.Both of those would allow the public to learn about the details of the city plan and provide input.The schedule calls for construction to begin in April, though that could be delayed until after school is out for the summer.More information on the public meetings will be announced closer to them being held.The city had also applied for changes to 10th and McKinley, but KDOT said they were not warranted, and since that is a state highway, no changes will be allowed, the city engineer explained.Winiecke will move ahead on seeking state funding assistance on the changes to signals at 24th and Main, which was the one project that KDOT ruled was warranted.